QUICK ANSWER
For many Korean art students, K-Arts and U.S. art schools are not an either/or choice. K-Arts’ 2027 undergraduate guide says students can apply whether or not they sit the CSAT (수능), and that applicants to other universities’ 수시 and 정시 rounds can apply too. Its School of Visual Arts exams run in late November and December, which is the same season as U.S. Early Action and Regular Decision.
The real constraint is preparation. The two applications ask for different kinds of work. K-Arts’ School of Visual Arts also admits only 90 students a year across four departments.
Families often ask which path is better. A more useful question is whether a student can prepare both well in the same year, and which one fits the career they want. This guide sets out what K-Arts publishes for 2027 entry and how it compares with the U.S. route.
TWO TRACKS · 1
What K-Arts’ School of Visual Arts Admits
| Department (미술원) | 2027 places | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Fine Arts (조형예술과) | 40 | |
| Design (디자인과) | 20 | No separate major chosen at selection |
| Architecture (건축과) | 20 | Five-year programme |
| Art Theory (미술이론과) | 10 | |
| Total | 90 | General admission (일반전형) |
From K-Arts’ 2027 undergraduate admissions guide (예술사 과정, 정원내 전형). Exam details and dates are published in the guide and on karts.ac.kr.
Twenty places in Design is a very small intake. By comparison, our own record lists 1,099 U.S. and international acceptances across 95 schools since 2009. Each was confirmed directly with the student. That gap doesn’t say one route is better. It does show how much more room the U.S. route has for a design student.
TWO TRACKS · 2
How the Two Routes Differ
| K-Arts School of Visual Arts | U.S. art schools | |
|---|---|---|
| Who can apply | Open regardless of CSAT; other 수시/정시 applicants may also apply | International applicants with transcripts and English scores |
| How you are assessed | K-Arts’ own exams in Seoul, in two rounds | Digital portfolio, essays and recommendations |
| Language | Korean | English |
| Length | 4 years (Architecture 5) | Usually 4 years (BFA) |
| Cost | National-school tuition in Korea | Pratt tuition $64,703 and COA $90,967; CalArts COA $90,455 (2026–27) |
U.S. costs from each school’s published 2026–27 figures. Merit aid can reduce U.S. costs substantially.
TWO TRACKS · 3
Can a Student Prepare Both?
Yes, but it means two kinds of work at once. A U.S. portfolio needs self-directed projects, process and writing in English. K-Arts selects through its own exams. Students who try both need to lock the U.S. portfolio by early autumn, before K-Arts’ exam season begins. The overlap between the two calendars is real, so plan from spring of the final year.
- By September: U.S. portfolio core finished; English test taken.
- November: U.S. Early Action deadlines (for example Pratt’s on 15 November); K-Arts first-round exams begin.
- December–January: K-Arts second round and results; U.S. Regular Decision deadlines.
Our guides to Pratt’s programmes and process work explain what the U.S. side asks for.
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Which Path Fits Which Student
A SIMPLE TEST
Ask where the student wants to work at 30, and in which language. A student aiming at the Korean art world, Korean studios or Korean design firms gains a lot from K-Arts’ network and its national-school cost. A student who wants to work internationally, or who thinks best in English, gains more from a U.S. school. A student who is unsure can apply to both if the workload is manageable.
TWO TRACKS · 5
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I apply to K-Arts without taking the CSAT?
Yes. K-Arts’ 2027 guide says students can apply regardless of whether they take the CSAT (대학수학능력시험).
Can I apply to K-Arts and other Korean universities in the same year?
Yes. The guide states that applicants to other universities’ 수시 and 정시 rounds, and those admitted, may also apply to K-Arts.
How many students does K-Arts’ School of Visual Arts admit?
90 in 2027 general admission: Fine Arts 40, Design 20, Architecture 20 and Art Theory 10.
Is K-Arts taught in English?
Undergraduate teaching is in Korean. Students who want an English-language education and an international network usually look at U.S. or UK schools.
Can I apply to K-Arts and U.S. art schools in the same year?
Yes. The schedules overlap from November to January, so the U.S. portfolio should be largely finished before K-Arts’ exams begin.
ROYAL BLUE ART & DESIGN
For 19 years we have prepared Korean students for U.S. and international art schools from our studio in Apgujeong, Seoul. Our public record lists 1,099 acceptances confirmed directly with students. We help families decide early whether to pursue K-Arts, U.S. schools or both, and plan the year so the two applications don’t compete for time. Call 02-3446-5929 or book a consultation.
K-Arts information from its 2027 undergraduate admissions guide (예술사 과정, 정원내 전형). U.S. costs from Pratt and CalArts 2026–27 published figures. Royal Blue figures from our results record (2009–2026). Checked October 2026. If something here has changed, tell us and we will correct it.
Related reading: Korean Academies Compared · Pratt Programmes · Is CalArts Worth the Cost? · Foundation Year: U.S. vs UK · Royal Blue Results